Qatar's Doha Port expects to receive around 30 cruise ships next year, says Director of Doha Port Management Captain Abdul Aziz Nasser al Yafei. The port had received three cruise ships this year.
He also said the new Hamad Port may receive mega cruise ships starting from next year, reports Qatar News Agency (QNA). According to him, Hamad Port is likely to conduct a test run this month to receive commercial vessels.
He said the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani) plays an important role in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 by contributing to the diversification of the economy by supporting the tourism sector. As part of the plan, Doha Port is likely to be opened for tourists which will open another front for revenues.
The cost of the project will be known only after the completion of a study being carried out in cooperation with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), al Yafei added.
The international cruise ship industry is expected to grow in the coming years as operators launch 55 new ships between 2015 and 2020, according to an industry organization, and the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) wants to up its share of this market.
Meanwhile, Cruise passengers will make more than one million visits to GCC countries this 2015/2016 season, providing a tremendous boost to the region’s tourism sectors and overall economy, figures from the Cruise Lines International Association reveal.
The news comes ahead of tomorrow’s Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, which takes place at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar, and is hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).